Tap pipe extensions

ABSTRACT

A tap pipe extension ( 11 ) comprises a first end ( 13 ) provided with first securing means to releasably secure the first end ( 13 ) to a tap inlet ( 5 ), a second end ( 14 ) provided with second securing means to releasably secure the second end to a fluid supply pipe ( 9 ), and a non-round formation ( 19 ) at a position remote from the first end ( 13 ), the pipe extension ( 11 ) being of a length greater than the length of the tap inlet ( 5 ). The arrangement is such that, in use, the non-round formation ( 19 ) is operable to secure the first securing means of the tap pipe extension ( 11 ) to the tap inlet ( 5 ). The tap pipe extension ( 11 ) may comprise a rigid tubular body ( 12 ) formed at opposite ends thereof with screw threads ( 17, 18 ). Alternatively the tap pipe extension ( 11 ) may comprise a rigid tubular body ( 12 ) to the lower end of which is secured a flexible hose ( 44 ), and the free end of the flexible hose ( 44 ) is provided with said second securing means.

The present invention relates to tap pipe extensions and is concerned inparticular, although not exclusively, with tap pipe extensions which areused to interconnect a tap inlet pipe with a water supply.

A tap is typically mounted on an upper, horizontal surface at the rearof a sink unit. The sink basin extends downwardly in front of thehorizontal surface and thus the area beneath the rear surface and behindthe sink basin is only accessible from beneath the sink unit. A tapinlet extends from the tap through the surface and is connected to awater supply. Typically a plastic nut clamps the tap inlet to the sinkand a second, metal nut connects the inlet to the water supply.

Similarly with a bath, the tap mounting region is not readily accessiblefrom below.

The securing of both nuts and the application of PTFE tape to the tapinlet to provide a watertight seal is made difficult because of therestricted access to the tap inlet above and behind the sink basin orbath. It is also difficult to gain access to the nuts with a spanner orthe like. Often other connections to a sink unit have to be removed toprovide sufficient access to the tap inlet.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided atap pipe extension comprising a first end provided with first securingmeans to releasably secure the first end to a tap inlet, a second endprovided with second securing means to releasably secure the second endto a fluid supply pipe, and a non-round formation at a position remotefrom the first end, the pipe extension being of a length greater thanthe length of the tap inlet, the arrangement being such that, in use,the non-round formation is operable to secure the first securing meansof the tap pipe extension to the tap inlet.

Preferably the first securing means comprise screw threads to engagewith screw threads on the tap inlet.

The second securing means preferably comprises screw threads to enable aconnection to be made to the fluid supply pipe.

The tap pipe extension may comprise a rigid tubular body formed atopposite ends thereof with said screw threads of the first and secondsecuring means.

Alternatively, the tap pipe extension may comprise a rigid tubular bodyto the lower end of which is secured a flexible hose, and the free endof the flexible hose is provided with said second securing means.

The provision of a flexible hose enables the tap pipe extension to bereadily connected to a supply pipe even when the supply pipe is notaligned with the axis of the extension body and tap inlet. Also, thisfacilitates the connection with the supply pipe to be located in a moreconvenient position for the manipulation of tools.

Preferably the first securing means further comprises an annularclamping face which is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the tap pipe extension such that, in use, part of a sink unit orbath is clamped between the tap and the clamping face, the non-roundformation being operable to secure the first securing means to the tapinlet.

Preferably the non-round formation comprises at least one pair ofopposed, parallel faces. More preferably the non-round formationcomprises a hexagonal formation having three pairs of opposed, parallelfaces.

Preferably the tap pipe extension, in use, connects a hot or cold watertap inlet of a hot or cold water tap to hot or cold water supplypipework.

Alternatively, in use, a first tap pipe extension connects a cold waterinlet of a hot and cold water mixer tap to a cold water supply and asecond tap pipe extension connects the hot water inlet and a hot watersupply.

Preferably the first tap pipe extension and the second tap pipeextension are of different lengths.

Preferably only the securing means of the first tap pipe extensioncomprises a clamping face. More preferably the clamping face is definedby a peripheral annular shoulder.

Preferably a clamping plate is provided having at least two aperturesthrough which, in use, respective tap pipe extensions are received.Preferably one of the apertures is substantially circular and the secondaperture is substantially arcuate, the circular aperture receiving thetap pipe extension having the clamping face. Preferably the clampingplate is substantially circular.

Preferably, in use, the clamping plate is brought into clampingengagement with part of a sink unit by the clamping face on the firsttap pipe extension.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda tap assembly comprising a tap having a tap inlet, a sink unit or bath,a tap pipe extension according to the first aspect of the invention, andfluid supply pipework, the first end of the tap pipe extension beingsecured to the tap inlet such that part of the sink unit or bath isclamped between the tap and the tap pipe extension, the second end ofthe tap pipe extension being secured to the fluid supply pipework.

Preferably the tap inlet or the first end of the tap pipe extensionpasses through an aperture in the sink unit or bath.

Other embodiments of the present invention may include any combinationof the features or limitations referred to herein.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways. butembodiments will now be described by way of example only with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a part sectional side view of a prior art tap assembly with awater supply pipe not connected to the tap inlet;

FIG. 2 is a part sectional side view of a tap pipe extension inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a part sectional side view of a tap assembly in accordancewith the present invention with a water supply pipe not connected to thetap pipe extension;

FIG. 4 a) is a part sectional side view of a modified tap pipe extensionand FIG. 4 b) is a part sectional side view of a further modified tappipe extension;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a clamping plate in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the tap pipe extensions of FIG. 4 and theclamping plate of FIG. 5 secured to a mixer tap;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a further tap pipe extension in accordance withthe invention and suitable for use with a wash basin tap;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-section of the extension of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a further tap pipe extension similar to FIG. 7but suitable for use with a bath tub tap;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-section of the extension of FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are side views of yet further tap pipe extensions inaccordance with the invention, each comprising a flexible hose.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a prior art tap assembly is showncomprising a tap 1 and a sink unit 2. The sink unit 2 comprises a sinkbasin 3 and a horizontal lip 4 extending from an upper edge of the rearof the sink basin 3. The lip 4 has an aperture (not shown) to receivepart of the tap.

The tap 1 has a tap inlet pipe 5. The exterior of part of the tap inlet5 is threaded 6. The tap inlet 5 extends through the aperture in the lip4 when the tap 1 is placed on top of the lip 4 of the sink unit 2. Aplastic nut 7 is threaded onto the tap inlet 5 and clamps the tap 1 tothe lip 4 of the sink unit 2. This ensures the tap 1 stays in positionduring use and also ensures water does not leak under the tap 1 throughthe aperture. When the tap 1 is so clamped, PTFE tape 8 is applied to alower end of the tap inlet 5. A connector pipe 9 is secured to the lowerend of the tap inlet 5 by a second, metal nut 10. The engagement of thethreads 6 on the tap inlet 5 and the second nut 10 with the PTFE tape 8provides a watertight connection when the second nut 10 is tightenedusing a spanner or the like. The metal nut 10 can be a nut of the typesold under the trade name “Flow Flex”. The metal nut 10 ideally conformsto BS 864-2.

The tap inlet 5 is relatively short and extends only a small distancebelow the lip 4. The lower end of the tap inlet is a relatively largedistance above the base of the sink basin 3. Thus access to both nuts 7and 10 and the PTFE tape 8 is relatively restricted.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a tap pipe extension 11 in accordance with thepresent invention comprises an elongate pipe 12 having a first end 13and a second, opposed end 14.

The first end 13 comprises an upwardly and outwardly flared region 15terminating in an annular clamping face 16 which is substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 12. The clamping face16 extends around the circumference of the first end 13 of the pipe 12.The first end 13 is internally threaded 17.

The second, opposed end 14 of the pipe 12 has an externally threadedportion 18 and a non-round formation 19 adjacent the threaded portion18. The non-round formation 19 has a hexagonal transverse cross section.Any other transverse cross section having at least two parallel, opposedfaces could, alternatively be used.

Both the flared region 15 and the non-round formation 19 are formedintegrally with the pipe 12. Alternatively the flared region 15 and thenon-round formation 19 are formed separately from the pipe 12 andsubsequently secured to the pipe 12 using any suitable method such as,for example, adhesive.

In use, PTFE tape is applied by a plumber or the like to the lower endof the tap inlet 5 which is subsequently inserted through the aperturein the lip 4 of the sink unit 2. The plumber then holds the tap pipeextension 11 by the second end 14 and places the first end 13 adjacentthe lower end of the tap inlet 5. The tap pipe extension 11 is thenrotated by the second end 14 so that the threaded region 17 engages withthe threaded region 6 on the tap inlet 5. The tap pipe extension 11 canbe turned by pressure applied to the non-round formation 19 until theclamping face 16 engages with the under-side of the lip 4 to clamp thetap 1 to the lip 4. The tap pipe extension 11 is securely tightenedusing a spanner or other tightening tool which engages with thenon-round formation 19. PTFE tape is then applied to the threadedportion 18 of the second end 14 which is then secured to the hot or coldwater supply pipe 9 using the second nut 10. This creates a watertightconnection.

The tap pipe extension 11 is significantly longer than the tap inlet 5and extends to a position adjacent or beneath the base of the sink unit2. The tap pipe extension 11 is turned and tightened by the non-roundformation 19 which is also adjacent or beneath the base of the sink unit2. Consequently the plumber does not have to reach up and behind thesink basin 3 to clamp the tap 1 to the lip 4 of the sink unit 2.

To tighten the tap pipe extension 11 to the tap inlet 5, a spanner isapplied to the non-round formation 19 which is in an open space beneathor adjacent the base of the sink basin 3 and not in the confined spaceabove and behind the sink basin 3 and beneath the lip 4. The entireoperation, including connecting the tap pipe extension 11 to the watersupply pipe 9, can be conducted with the second end 14 of the tap pipeextension 11 in the plumber's line of sight beneath the base of the sinkbasin 3 and thus the operation is made easier and quicker.

The provision of clamping face 16 limits the amount by which the tappipe extension 11 can be screwed onto the tap inlet 5 and thus preventsover-tightening of the connection and possible destruction of thethreads on the tap pipe extension 11 or the tap inlet 5. As the clampingface 16 engages with the lip 4 of the sink unit 2, the top of thethreads 17 simultaneously engage with the top of the tap inlet 5.

The above described tap pipe extension 11 is for use with a single coldor hot water tap having either a single cold water inlet or a single hotwater inlet. However, the tap pipe extension 11 can be modified for usewith a mixer tap 1′ having both a hot and a cold water inlet. The hotand cold water inlets of a mixer tap 1′ do not extend beneath the bottomof the tap but are formed in the body of the mixer tap 1′ itself. Theinlets are each of circular cross section and are internally threaded.The mixer tap, in use, is located above an aperture or apertures formedin the lip 4 of the sink unit 2.

Referring now to FIG. 4 a) a modified tap pipe extension 21 for use witha mixer tap has an annular shoulder 20 instead of the outwardly flaredregion 15 of tap pipe extension 11. The annular shoulder 20 defines theannular clamping face 16. In this embodiment the threaded region 17 ofthe pipe 12 extends above the annular clamping face 16 by apredetermined distance. A sealing ‘O’ ring 17′ is located in acircumferential groove adjacent the threaded region 17 of the pipe 12.

In FIG. 4 b) a further modified tap pipe extension 31 has the shoulder20 omitted.

Referring to FIG. 5. a clamping plate 22 is shown for use with themodified tap pipe extensions 21, 31 and a mixer tap 1′. The clampingplate 22 comprises a circular disc having a central axis 23. A circularaperture 24 is located at one side of the axis 23 and an arcuateaperture 25 extending about axis 23 is located on the other side of theaxis from circular aperture 24. The arcuate aperture 25 has rounded ends25′ of radius similar to the radius of circular aperture 24. The firstend 13 of the modified tap pipe extension 21 shown in FIG. 4 a) extendsthrough the circular aperture 24. The first end 13 of the furthermodified tap pipe extension 31 shown in FIG. 4 b) extends through thearcuate aperture 25.

In use, the mixer tap 1′ is placed on top of the lip 4 of the sink unit2 above the aperture or apertures (not shown) formed in the lip 4. Theupper end 13 of the modified tap pipe extension 21 is inserted throughthe circular aperture 24 of clamping plate 22 so that the underside ofthe clamping plate 22 abuts the clamping face 16 of shoulder 20.

The plumber then holds the modified tap pipe extension 21 by the secondend 14 and places the first end 13 through an aperture in the lip 4 andinto an inlet in the body of the mixer tap 1′. The modified tap pipeextension 21 is rotated by the second end 14 so that the threaded region17 engages with the threaded region on the cold or hot water tap inletin the body of the mixer tap 1′. The modified tap pipe extension 21 isturned by applying pressure to the non-round formation 19 until theclamping face 16 of shoulder 20 engages with the underside of theclamping plate 22. This forces the clamping plate 22 into contact withthe under-side of the lip 4 to clamp the mixer tap 1′ to the lip 4. Thesealing ‘O’ ring 17′ forms a watertight seal between the pipe 12 and themixer tap inlet.

The arcuate slot 25 of the clamping plate 22 is aligned with and beneaththe other water inlet in the body of the mixer tap 1′. The furthermodified tap pipe extension 31 (of FIG. 4 b)) is held by the plumber atsecond end 14 and the first end 13 is inserted through the slot 25 andscrewed into the other water inlet in the mixer tap 1′.

The modified tap pipe extensions 21 and 31 are securely tightened usinga spanner or other tightening tool which engages with the non-roundformation 19. PTFE tape is then applied to the threaded region of thesecond end 14 of each tap pipe extension which is then secured to thehot or cold water supply pipe as has been previously described.

It will be appreciated that the tap pipe extensions 21 and 31 used withthe mixer tap 1′ are of different lengths but both extend substantiallybeneath the base of the sink basin 3. The different lengths allow onetap pipe extension 21, 31 to be connected to a substantially horizontalhot or cold water supply pipe (not shown) and the other tap pipeextension 21, 31 to be connected to another substantially horizontalwater supply pipe (not shown) such that the hot and cold water supplypipes are substantially parallel to one another. The water supply pipescan alternatively be inclined to the horizontal or the supply pipes canbe substantially vertical.

The arcuate aperture 25 of the clamping plate 22 allows some relativemovement between the clamping plate 22, the modified tap pipe extension31 and an inlet of the mixer tap when the other tap pipe extension 21has been inserted through the circular aperture 24. This relativemovement aids assembly of the components. However, the arcuate aperture25 could alternatively be in the form of a circular aperture.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a relatively short tap pipe extension 41 suitable foruse with a wash basin tap. The extension 41 is formed of mouldedplastics and comprises a stepped bore 42, an intermediate bore portionbeing provided with threads 17 for threaded engagement by the threads onthe lower part of a tap inlet, such as the tap inlet 5 of the tap ofFIG. 1. The extension 41 is of uniform hexagonal horizontal section forsubstantially the full height of the extension 41 to enable a spannereasily to be engaged with the side wall 43 of the extension. Althoughthe body is relatively shorter, the spanner can still be engaged at aposition of the body remote from the upper end of the body.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an extension similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8 butdimensioned to fit a bath tap.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show further embodiments in which the tap pipe extensionincorporates a flexible hose 44. The hose 44 can be a length of flexiblehose material of suitable plastics/rubber material which is preferablysheathed with a braided wire cover 45 to provide resistance againstabrasion during installation and use. In FIG. 11 the extension comprisesa moulded plastics extension body 41′ of similar shape to the extension41 of FIGS. 7 and 8, but without the threaded lower end 18. Instead, theupper end of the flexible hose 44 is moulded into the body 41′ so as tocommunicate freely with lower end of the bore of the body.

The lower end 50 of the flexible hose 44 is secured by a swaged collar47 to a tubular fitting 46, the fitting 46 carrying an integral nut 48and an internally threaded nut 49, to enable the lower end 50 to beconnected to a water supply pipe.

The advantage of the extension of FIG. 11 is that the extension can bereadily assembled to a tap inlet, by manipulation of the lower end ofthe flexible hose 44, initial engagement with the tap inlet threadsbeing achieved by finger-turning of the nut 48. Once the extension hasbeen finger-tightened, a spanner can be applied directly to the flats ofthe extension body 41′.

The extension 61 of FIG. 12 is similar to that of FIG. 11 except thatthe extension body is of the form shown in FIG. 2 but omitting thethreaded lower end 18.

1. A tap pipe extension comprising a first end provided with firstsecuring means to releasably secure the first end to a tap inlet, asecond end provided with second securing means to releasably secure thesecond end to a fluid supply pipe, and a nonround formation at aposition remote from the first end, the pipe extension being of a lengthgreater than the length of the tap inlet, the arrangement being suchthat, in use, the non-round formation is operable to secure the firstsecuring means of the tap pipe extension to the tap inlet.
 2. The tappipe extension of claim 1 wherein the first securing means comprisescrew threads to engage with screw threads on the tap inlet.
 3. The tappipe extension of claim 2 wherein the first securing means comprises astepped bore and an intermediate bore portion being provided withthreads for the threaded engagement by the threads on the lower part ofthe tap inlet.
 4. The tap pipe extension of claim 1 wherein the secondsecuring means comprises screw threads to enable a connection to be madeto the fluid supply pipe.
 5. The tap pipe extension of claim 3comprising a rigid tubular body formed at opposite ends thereof withsaid screw threads of the first and second securing means.
 6. The tappipe extension of claim 1 comprising a rigid tubular body to the lowerend of which is secured a flexible hose, and the free end of theflexible hose is provided with said second securing means.
 7. The tappipe extension of claim 1 wherein the first securing means furthercomprises an annular clamping face which is substantially perpendicularto a longitudinal axis of the tap pipe extension such that, in use, partof a sink unit or bath is clamped between the tap and the clamping face,the non-round formation being operable to secure the first securingmeans to the tap inlet.
 8. The tap pipe extension of claim 1 wherein thenon-round formation comprises at least one pair of opposed, parallelfaces.
 9. The tap pipe extension of claim 1 wherein the non-roundformation comprises a hexagonal formation having three pairs of opposed,parallel faces.
 10. The tap pipe extension of claim 1 wherein the tappipe extension, in use, connects a hot or cold water tap inlet of a hotor cold water tap to hot or cold water supply pipe-work.
 11. The tappipe extension of claim 1 wherein, in use, a first tap pipe extensionconnects a cold water inlet of a hot and cold water mixer tap to a coldwater supply and a second tap pipe extension connects the hot waterinlet and a hot water supply.
 12. The tap pipe extension of claim 10wherein the first tap pipe extension and the second tap pipe extensionare of different lengths.
 13. The tap pipe extension of claim 10 asdependant on claim 6 wherein only the securing means of the first tappipe extension comprises a clamping face.
 14. The tap pipe extension ofclaim 12 wherein the clamping face is defined by a peripheral annularshoulder.
 15. The tap pipe extension of claim 10 further comprising aclamping plate having at least two apertures through which, in use,respective tap pipe extensions are received.
 16. The tap pipe extensionof claim 14 wherein one of the apertures is substantially circular andthe second aperture is substantially arcuate, the circular aperturereceiving the tap pipe extension having the clamping face.
 17. The tappipe extension of claim 14 wherein the clamping plate is substantiallycircular.
 18. The tap pipe extension of claim 14 wherein the firstsecuring means further comprises an annular clamping face which issubstantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tap pipeextension such that, in use, part of a sink unit or bath is clampedbetween the tap and the clamping face the non-round formation beingoperable to secure the first securing means to the tap inlet and whereinthe clamping plate is brought into clamping engagement with part of asink unit by the clamping face on the first tap pipe extension.
 19. Atap assembly comprising a tap having a tap inlet, a sink unit or bath, atap pipe extension, and fluid supply pipe-work, the first end of the tappipe extension being secured to the tap inlet such that part of the sinkunit or bath is clamped between the tap and the tap pipe extension, thesecond end of the tap pipe extension being secured to the fluid supplypipe-work.
 20. The tap pipe extension of claim 18 wherein the tap inletor the first end of the tap pipe extension passes through an aperture inthe sink unit or bath.